Kids

Bent-Wire Crank Toy

.1

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Bent-Wire Crank Toy

Written By: Matt Mets

TOOLS:

Pliers (1)

Pliers (1)

A second pair is optional but handy.

Ruler (1)

Templates (1)
Download them from
http://makeprojects. com/v/29.

PARTS:

Wire. 20AWG. bared)

We got a spool of fence wire that will

last for a long time for $3.

wire snips (1)

SUMMARY

Making things with wire looks simple, but it can be challenging. Pick up a few wire-bending
tricks, though, and you can sketch in 3 dimensions and make anything from a tiny, delicate
figurine to a large, mechanical sculpture with moving parts.

Like sketching with a pen on paper, there's no right way to do it, but a few techniques can
help you get started. We'll show you how to make a functional crank toy using a few basic
tools and ordinary fence wire. Along the way, you'll learn some important bends and
structures you can use in your own creations.

Our crank toy is made up of 5 pieces: frame, crankshaft, piston, connecting rod, and art.
Each part is made separately using individual pieces of wire, but you need to construct them

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Bent-Wire Crank Toy

in the right order so they'll fit together correctly. To make it easier, we've made a template
(PDF) to guide you. Download it below, and use the template and the photos here for
reference.

Step 1 — Fabricate the frame.

• Measure out about 24" of wire. Start by making the cylindrical coil at the top of the frame.

• Wrap your wire around a prong of your pliers (round-nose work best), and bend into a coil,
slipping the coil off as it grows.

Step 2 — Fabricate the Frame (continued)

• Working your way around the template, grip the wire in the pliers' jaws and bend it to make
a right angle.

• To make a continuing loop, grab the wire at the intended location of the loop with the tip of
the pliers and wrap.

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Bent-Wire Crank Toy

Step 3 — Fabricate the frame (continued)

• Wrap the trailing edge of wire around the top of the frame to the far corner and leave the
end long for now.

Step 4 — Create the crankshaft

• Measure out about 8" of wire.

• To make a zig-zag, make a series of 180° bends around the tips of the pliers, then tighten
them by squashing them with pliers

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Bent-Wire Crank Toy

Step 5 — Create the crankshaft (continued)

• To make a flat coil, twist a loop
perpendicular to the main shaft,
then continue to spiral the wire
around the loop, keeping it in plane
by gripping it with the pliers

Step 6

• Create the crankshaft (continued)

• After completing it as shown on the template, make right-angle bends (indicated with
stars), perpendicular to the plane of zig-zags, to finish the crankshaft

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Bent-Wire Crank Toy

Step 7 — Create the crankshaft (continued)

• Open the continuing loop on the side of the frame away from the trailing edge by twisting it
sideways.

• Slide the handle end of the crankshaft into the open loop. Trim the long end of the shaft to
slip it through the opposite loop

Step 8 — Create the crankshaft (continued)

• Make a terminal loop to secure the crankshaft in the frame.

• Make a right angle bend in the crankshaft just on the outside of the frame, and trim the
trailing end to about V2".

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Bent-Wire Crank Toy

Step 9 — Create the crankshaft (continued)

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• Turn it so the bent end is facing you. Grip the end in the tip of the pliers, and curl the end
back in one smooth motion.

• Neaten the loop with the tips of the pliers

• And you've finished the crank

Step 10 — Prepare the piston

• Measure and cut 6" of wire.

• Follow the template to create the basic shape (second image).

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Bent-Wire Crank Toy

Step 11 — Prepare the piston (continued)

• Grip both long edges of the rectangle in the pliers, then bend the rectangle over to make a
V in profile.

• Twist the loop so that it lies parallel to the V edges. Leave the long end trailing.
Step 12 — Construct the connecting rod

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crank shaft

• Measure 5" of wire and follow the template for the first half of the connecting rod.

• Slide the piston onto the top edge of the rod, with the V edges straddling the sides

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Bent-Wire Crank Toy

Step 13 — Construct the connecting rod

• Complete the template shape

• Twist open the loops at the base of the connecting rod.

Step 14 — Mount the mechanism

• Thread the trailing end of the piston through the cylindrical coil on the frame.

• Hook the base of the connecting rod onto the crankshaft.

• Close the loops by twisting them back into position.

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Bent-Wire Crank Toy

Step 15 — Build the bird.

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• Follow the template to bend your choice of bird.

• Turn a loop at the top of the piston, and another at the top of the frame.

Step 16 — Attach the bird

• Twist open the loops, attach the bird, and close them.

• And you're done :)

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Bent-Wire Crank Toy

Step 17 — Further Inspiration

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• Alexander Calder, famous for his mobiles, also experimented with directed motion in
expressive, evocative bent-wire crank toys.

• Arthur Ganson's soldered wire automata are lovely and futile. His work is fascinating

This document was last generated on 2012-10-31 01:19:51 AM.

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